The PRISM Quartet seeks to places the saxophone in unexpected contexts, chart fresh musical territory, and to challenge, inspire, and move audiences. “A bold ensemble that set the standard for contemporary-classical saxophone quartets” (The New York Times), PRISM has been presented by Carnegie Hall, appeared as soloists with the Cleveland Orchestra, and conducted residencies at the Curtis Institute. Two-time winners of the CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, PRISM has commissions over 200 works, including from winners of the Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Fellowship. PRISM has collaborated with Ethel, Music From China, Inti-Illimani, The Crossing, jazz artists Jason Moran, Miguel Zenón, and recorded for Naxos, Koch, Innova, Albany.

Partnering with the ensemble Music from China, the PRISM Quartet presents works by four Chinese-born American composers: Bright Sheng, Lei Liang, Fang Man, and Huang Ruo. The Singing Gobi Desert reveals that saxophones and Chinese instruments have a natural, if unexpected, affinity.